Portable shelf



Oct. 1, 1940. w G, MAK|NGA 2,216,621

- PORTABLE SHELF Filed Aug. 21, 1939 ATTORN I IN VEN TOR. Hi1 Z 1 am Maakz'nya Patented Oct. 1, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates specifically to a shelf construction in which the elements may be readily adjusted to conform to the area of various supporting surfaces.

An object is to provide a portable shelf that may be quickly disassembled for cleansing purposes.

Another object is to provide a simple structure of economical manufacture.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of a closetshowing my shelf attached to the door.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the shelf, parts being in sections to more clearly disclose its construction.

Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the shelf supporting brackets.

Fig. 4 is a modified form of shelf.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the supporting brackets-employed in the above form.

Fig. 6 is another modified form of the shelf formed of sheet metal.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to Fig. 1, 5 designates the complete shelf which may be conveniently attached to the inner face of a closet or other door. As shown in Fig. 2 the shelf 5 preferably consists of a pair of end brackets 6 and 1 (in this case formed of wood), the opposing faces of the same being provided with sockets 8 and 9 for supporting the shelf bottom I and guard rail II respectively. The shelf bottom I0 and guard rail are formed of sheet metal and the bottom preferably consists of two members l2 and I3, their longitudinal edges having inturned flanges l4, l5, member 12 telescopically engaging the guideway of member l3. Guard rail II is likewise formed into two members l6 and I1, each having inturned flanges on their longitudinal edges, member l6 engaging the guideway of member 11 telescopically. By forming the shelf bottom and guard rail of tele- 45 scopic members it will be apparent that the width of the shelf may be readily increased or diminished to accommodate the shelf to the space on which it is to be supported. Each of the brackets are provided with holes l8 by means of which the same may be rigidly attached to a support.

In Figs. 4 and is illustrated a shelf construction similar in form to that shown in Fig. 2, the end brackets l9 being formed of cast metal, but instead of sockets formed in the inner faces of the brackets projecting pockets 20 are provided for the reception of the ends of the guard rail II, which is formed of sheet metal and is exactly the same as the form shown in Fig. 2. Both of the members I2 and I3 of the shelf bottom H) in this construction are provided with grooved guideways on their longitudinal edges in order not only to render the same extensible, but to enable the ends of the members to engage the supporting tongues 2| formed on the inner faces of the brackets, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The rear vertical edges of the brackets are provided with attaching flanges 22 as in the forms heretofore described.

In Fig. 6 still another form of shelf construction is illustrated in which the entire shelf is formed of only two parts of die stamped sheet metal. The bracket portions of this construction preferably consist of vertically disposed end walls 23, their lower edges 24 having inwardly extending tongues 25, 26, the longitudinally extending edges of tongue 25 being bent over to reinforce the same, while the longitudinal extending edges of tongue 26 is similarly bent over to form a guideway for the tongue 25 to form the shelf bottom 21 when inserted the-rein. Extending inwardly from the upper portions of the vertical front edges of the end walls 23 are tongue members 28 and 29 whose longitudinal edges are bent similar to the shelf bottom 21, tongue 28 engaging the guideway of tongue 29 to form the shelf guard rail 30.

From the above description it will be clear that I have provided a portable shelf that is of simple construction and of economical manufacture.

It will be understood from the above description that as the shelf is extensible it can be readily arranged to fit on doors of closets, refrigerators or other supporting surfaces where a shelf of such character is desirable.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to the forms shown in the drawing, it will be understood that such embodiment is merely illustrative of the invention and should not be construed as imposing any restrictions thereupon, since the invention is best defined in the claim appended hereto.

I claim:

A shelf construction comprising a pair of die stamped sheet metal members each having a' bracket portion adapted to be secured to a supporting structure, and pair of oppositely disposed tongues projecting therefrom arranged to telescopically engage each other, one of the tongues on each member being disposed in a horizontal plane andthe other in a vertical plane to form a shelf bottom and a guard rail respectively, the longitudinal edges of the tongues on one member being bent over to reinforce the same and the longitudinal edges on the other member being bent over to form a guide way to receive the tongues on the first mentioned member.

WILLIAM G. MACKINGA. 

